Leg-brace.



wfM. HINSON LEG BRACE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19; 1916- muted May 29, 1917.

INVENTOR M'Zlz'amM.Hmso1z.

lvgmessss ATTORNEY a l UNITED JSTATES PATENTOFF1E.

WILLIAM M. HINSON, or LooAL, ALABAMA.

LEG-3311011.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. IIINsoN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Local, in the county of Escambia'and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leg Braces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to leg braces, and more particularly to a brace having an adjustable foot stirrup and especially adapted to relieve the injured foot or knee from the pressure exerted by weight of the body.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a brace of the character stated of simple construction and operation. Another object is to provide a brace which can be easily adjusted to relieve the foot or injured joint from all pressure. Further obj ects will appear from the following detailed description.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side view of the invention as applied,

Fig. 2 is a front view,

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 1 is a detail of the foot stirrup.

1 designates the upper leg inclosing member composed of top and bottom sheet metal straps 2 and 3 and the leather body 1 secured to the same provided witlr suitable perforations 5 along its opposite edges adapted to receive the lace 6, a tongue 70f soft leather being provided to project beneath the lace in the usual manner. A bar 8 is secured to the straps 2 and 3, at each side of member 1, and is provided at its lower end with an offset ear 9. This ear is perforated to receive a rod 10, the upper end of which is offset and flattened to form an ear 11 which is secured to the top 'of the bar 8. The lower end of rod 10 is shaped to form an integral ear 12 which is pivotally secured to a similar ear on the upper end of the rod 13 riveted in a tube l ffixedly secured to the bar 15 rigidly mounted on the lower leg inclosing member 16, and similar to bar 8.

A threaded rod 17 is slidably mounted in tube 14, and is provided at its lower end with an eye 18 which is pivotally connected to the upper end of the arm 19 of a foot stirrup 20. A nut 21 is threaded on rod 17 below the ear 15 of bar 15, for the purpose to be later disclosed.

The stirrup 20 is expanded at its center Specification of Letters Patent. I I, Patented May 29, 1917.,

Application filed June 19, 1916. Serial No. 104,480.

portion, as at 2'2, and provided with a series of perforations 28-. These perforations are adapted to receive rivets 2 1, or-the like, by means of which the stirrup is fixedly secured to a steel plate 25 secured in the sole of a shoe 26. Of course, if desired, the stir rup may be secured to the shoe sole directly by means of screws threaded into the same through the apertures 23.

In using the brace, the upper member 1 is secured to the leg above the knee, and the lower member 16 is secured above the ankle and below the knee. The stirrup 20 is then adjusted, by turning the nuts 21 so as to force rods 17 downward out of the tubes 14, so as to force the shoe 26 downward and relieve the limb of the weight of the body. When walking the weight of the body will be transmitted to rods '10 and 13, and by rods 17 and stirrup 20, to the shoe 26. By means of the nuts 21 the stirrup can be adjusted to suit the particular individual using it and to vary the amount of pressure whichmay be placed upon the injured foot or joint so that,by gradually increasing this pressure, the joint may be gradually strengthened until the brace can be omitted entirely. I

While I have described my brace as being used for relieving an injured foot from pressure, it will be evident that it can be used equally well for relieving an injured ankle ward at its lower end to provide an integral ear, a rod'inserted through said ear and fixedly secured at its upper end to said bar, a lower leg engaging member, a flat bar secured to said lower member at each side thereof and turned outward at its lower end to provide an integral ear, tubes secured on each of said side bars of the lower member above the ear thereof, externally threaded rods slidably mounted in said tubes and through said ears, a stirrup pivotally securedto the lower end of said rods nuts lower ends-of the-rods carried by said upper threaded on said threaded rods and bearing" leg engaging member. 10 against the ears of thebars: of saidtl'ow er: leg I nu testimony whereof I aflix my signature engaging members whereby said rods may in presence of tWo Witnesses.

be forced out of said tubes by threading the- WILLIAM M. HINSON.

nuts onto the rods, and rods fixedly secured Witnesses:

in the upper portions ofsaid tubes and piv- JAMES N. MONIEL,

otally secured at their upper ends,- to the; JOHN M. CoxWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner ofi Patents,

Washington, 0. 

